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| Afghanistan |
| Mullah Zaeef: US interested in Central Asia, not Binny |
| 2001-10-12 |
Six days after the first US-led air strikes in Afghanistan, the Taliban remains unmoved by President George Bush's renewed demand to hand over Osama bin Laden immediately. According to the NNI, the Taliban envoy to Pakistan Mulla Abdul-Salam Za'eef laughed away Bush's offer to 'reconsider' military strikes against the regime if it hands over bin Laden, saying the US will make some 'more offers' after losing more in the war. "We reject this offer. The world has seen that the Afghans cannot be dictated," Za'eef said on Friday. Asked if the Taliban were ready to hold talks with the US or any other country, he said: "Anyone who wants to talk to the Taliban leadership or visit Afghanistan is welcome, but we haven't invited anyone, nor will we invite anyone for dialogue." He claimed that the U.S. plan was to take control of natural resources in Central Asia and that bin Laden was not the Americans real target. "Their motive is not to capture Osama, but to ensure its easy access to Central Asia and China," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |